How do you store your boat?

[shell_guy]

So guys, with winter approaching, how do you store your boat?

[EZM]

Indoors in a garage. Last year I rented a heated space, but this year the garage will be unheated. Winterizing is just adding some sea foam stabilizer, dropping the leg to vertical, blocking the wheels, and plugging in the battery banks into the wall (I have an on board charger).

Main engine is a larger (150hp) outboard.

[BUSHRVN]

Tent shelter, engine fogged, battery in house. Been wondering if fogging the engine is really nessasary. 60-40 Yamaha outboard jet, only my second winter with it and I'm new to boating. Fogged it last year but haven't gotten around to it yet and winter hit a little soon on me!

[Ebrand]

-Cleaned and dried throughly.
-greased boat and wheel bearings
-Fish Finder/stereo display removed.
-Batteries out and where they won't freeze. Water topped up and charged (next year will be 9 years on the same batteries).
-Leg dry and down. Exhaust ports plugged.
-Bow elevated. All drain plugs removed. Made sure nothing could clog these if water did get in
-Stabil ( double dose because our storage time is twice as long as the time the directions speaks of ) in the fuel and run the motor to ensure that is in the system.
-Dryer sheets to discourage mice.
-Double tarped even though it will be under a roof and the snow can get to it.
-hitch locked shut.

Usually takes about 1/2 a bottle of whiskey to do. If I don't rush.

I am fussy and my 8 year old boat still looks new.

Getting it out of the snow will give me great relief. Was always worried the snow would cave in the tarps and wreck stuff. I was religious about sweeping the tarps off but a heavy snow fall when I was away working always puckered me up

[Dewey Cox]

Flip it upside down.

[reddeerguy2015]

Originally Posted by Ebrand

-Cleaned and dried throughly.
-greased boat and wheel bearings
-Fish Finder/stereo display removed.
-Batteries out and where they won't freeze. Water topped up and charged (next year will be 9 years on the same batteries).
-Leg dry and down. Exhaust ports plugged.
-Bow elevated. All drain plugs removed. Made sure nothing could clog these if water did get in
-Stabil ( double dose because our storage time is twice as long as the time the directions speaks of ) in the fuel and run the motor to ensure that is in the system.
-Dryer sheets to discourage mice.
-Double tarped even though it will be under a roof and the snow can get to it.
-hitch locked shut.

Usually takes about 1/2 a bottle of whiskey to do. If I don't rush.

I am fussy and my 8 year old boat still looks new.

Getting it out of the snow will give me great relief. Was always worried the snow would cave in the tarps and wreck stuff. I was religious about sweeping the tarps off but a heavy snow fall when I was away working always puckered me up

- Don't forget to change the oil/filter (if 4 stroke). Best to do it before storage vs doing it in the spring (no contaminants sitting in the engine all winter).

- change leg oil

- change fuel filter/water separator

- i run antifreeze through mine (its an i/o), and drain the exhaust manifold/block when I'm done. That way if there is a chance i missed a drain cock at least it has antifreeze in it.

I also run my boat with ethanol free, premium fuel all summer with seafoam. But come storage time extra seafoam is added and tank is completely topped off to prevent condensation in the tank.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Ebrand

-
-Dryer sheets to discourage mice.

Never even thought of that. Where would you put it? How many?

As for me, mine is outside in an RV storage site. Not ideal but... :
- Double dose of fuel stabilizer and took her for a run to get it into both engines (115hp 2 stroke and 15hp 4 stroke kicker).
-Changed the lubricant in both legs. The dropped them vertical.
-Changed the oil and filter in the 4 stroke kicker
-Took out fish finder, electric troller, rods, life jackets, most anything steal-able.
-Blocked the wheels, double locked the hitch (though always do that).
-Put on travel cover and then larger fitted cover tarp on top of that.

One worry I have is that the cover tarp (as opposed to the travel cover underneath it) droops down into the sunken area at the transom. I dropped by after the first snow and the tarp was already full of water there (maybe 4 inches deep. It wouldn't really matter if it leaked there as it would just go into the transom and out through the drainage holes at the back of the boat. I thought about cutting a hole to let it drain. As is I'm going to have a 50 lb block of ice there once it freezes.

[O-Fishial Business]

Getting mine shrink wrapped as I do not have indoor storage or a proper tarp to cover it for winter. Drain the heat exchanger lines (Jet Boat) and park it out back.

[cube]

Originally Posted by shell_guy

So guys, with winter approaching, how do you store your boat?

Last year used a naviglo from Costco. Worked great snow just sloughed off.

Ran an extension cord out from the onboard chargers so I could plug them in every couple of weeks

[Big Sky]

Tarped up. Sweep snow off regularly.
Batteries stay inside the house. Toasty warm.
Follow instructions in manual for the outboard.

two more weeks ( maybe 3 ) and then it's hibernation time.

[trophybook]

Indoors and heated, I keep her ready to go just in case I get a itch for some salt

[bubba 96]

heat shrink mine every year(done by myself I have enough wrap for 20 yrs) with ample amount of descant bags, never had a problem, 6 yrs now..
and indoor storage for the engine..

[YeeHaw]

I just remove the decks from my tinner, lean it against the fence then take the outboard inside for service, then cry and dround my sorrows